What IS identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone finds and uses your personal information, such as your name, social security number, or credit card number to commit fraud or theft using your name. Victims can spend months, even years, recovering from identity theft. There can be high out-of-pocket expenses related to clearing your name. You could be denied loans and jobs. Though unlikely, you could even be mistakenly arrested as a result of crimes committed in your name.
Learn about Identity Fraud, Inc.'s protection plans and view their newsletters!
View the FTC's video "Deter, Detect Defend - Avoid Identity Theft. Order your free annual credit report.How does it happen?
Identity thieves use a variety of methods to gain access to data including:
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They steal your mail (or rummage through
your trash), and use your financial statements, preapproved
credit card offers, telephone calling cards and tax information
to open accounts in your name. Believe it or not, "Dumpster
Diving" is the most prevalent form of identity theft.
- They access places that keep records for a large number of
people, such as retail stores, fitness centers, car dealers, schools,
hospitals, and even credit bureaus. Thieves may use the stolen
identities themselves, or sell the information to other criminals.
- They steal your purse or wallet containing your personal identification, credit and bank cards, and checks.
- They "shoulder surf" (look over your shoulder) at ATM machines and phone booths in order to capture your PIN numbers.
- They change your address with the post office or credit card company to divert your mail or specific statements to another location.
- They "hack" information you share on the Internet from non-secure Internet sites. (Read about Star One's Internet security.) More importantly, they infect your home computer with viruses that transmits your data.
- They buy your information from other sources, or pose as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your information. This is called "pretexting".
- They find your family information (mother's maiden name) in public genealogy records.
- They mail you fictitious IRS Forms and fraudulent bank correspondence in an attempt to obtain your personal information.
Prevention is Key
There are a variety of things you can do to reduce the risk of identity theft. Think about taking care of your identity on a regular basis, just like you take care of your health. The collection of ideas below should help raise your awareness.
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Purchase Identity
Fraud protection from Identity Fraud, Inc.
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Try our ID
Theft Coach, an interactive learning tool provided
by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Learn how to
protect yourself and your financial information from harm.
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Ask questions. Don't reveal any personally
identifying information until you understand how it will be
used. Don't give out any information over the phone, through
the mail, or on the Internet unless you initiate the
contact.
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Pay attention to security measures when
making purchases on the Internet. Does the site encrypt
your transaction information? Those that do will clearly state
their security measures on their site. Look for "https"
rather than "http" in the first part of the URL. The
"s" stands for "secure". Also, look for
a locked padlock icon on the bottom right of your Internet Explorer
browser window, and on the bottom left of your Netscape browser
window. This locked padlock icon is another indication of a
secure site. Click on it and read the certificate.
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Be vigilant about your mail. Promptly
remove your mail after it has been delivered. Deposit outgoing
mail in collection boxes or at the post office, or consider
installing a locked mailbox at your residence. If you're going
on vacation, place your mail on hold.
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Pay attention to your charges and billing
cycles. Is there a charge on your statement that you don't
recognize? Do your statements arrive on time? If not, contact
your creditors. A missing statement could indicate that a thief
has taken over your account and has changed your billing address.
Use Star One's Online
Banking to check your accounts daily. Do not
print your telephone number or social security number on your
checks. Balance your checkbook every month.
Tip: Use our Notifications feature to track your account balances in Online Banking in an effort to quickly discover possible fraudulent activity on your account. You can set up notifications for loans as well. An example is to set up your Visa Account to send a notification when your balance reaches a certain level in order to track usage.
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Keep the number of cards you carry to
a minimum. Put passwords on them and avoid using easily
available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth
date, the last four digits of your SSN, or your phone number.
To learn how to change your account identifiers, click
here. Close inactive accounts.
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Be cautious about where you keep personal
information. Store your social security card, birth certificate,
passport, unused bank cards, and canceled and used checks in
a safe place, especially if you have roommates, hired help,
or are having service work done in your home. File away a list
of all your account card numbers, expiration dates, and phone
numbers. DO NOT carry your social security
card, birth certificate or passport with you. Experts agree
that the key to identity theft is obtaining a person's social
security number.
- Tear up or shred receipts, credit
card offers you get in the mail, expired cards, insurance information,
physician statements, bank checks and statements that you are
discarding, and anything else that may have your personal information
on it. Pay special attention to credit card, check card, and
ATM receipts. They often have your account number printed right
on them! A crosscut shredder is highly recommended.
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Order a copy of your credit report on
a regular basis. Request changes to inaccuracies in writing
and follow up with each credit bureau. See the following list
of credit reporting agencies.
- Remove yourself from marketing lists. Even though many marketing organizations allow you to "opt out" of having your information shared with others, you may want to contact the following organizations.
- Consider purchasing a credit watch program that will notify you whenever an account is set up in your name, or when a change has been made to any of your existing accounts.
- Identity theft insurance is also available through various insurance companies and Star One Credit Union (see above). It can also be sold as a rider to your homeowner's policy. The fees vary, and coverage normally includes legal expenses, loan re-application fees, telephone and certified mailing charges, notary expenses and lost wages for the time taken from work to deal with the fraud. Contact your insurance agent.
Credit Bureaus: To stop prescreened credit card offers from coming to you in the mail. Identity thieves often "dumpster dive" for offers that you throw away, secure a credit card in your name, and have the statements sent to a different address without your knowledge. "Dumpster Diving" is the most prevalent form of identity theft.
Prescreened credit offer Opt-Out line: (888) 567-8688
Department of Motor Vehicles: Will often sell your personal information for direct marketing purposes. Not all DMVs do this, and you may not be able to opt out if they do so.
Direct Marketers: The Direct Marketing Association is a trade association of businesses who advertise their products and services directly to consumers by mail, telephone, magazine, Internet, radio or television. Its Preference Services allow consumers to opt out of direct mail, e-mail and/or telemarketing solicitations from many national companies. Removing your name from their list will prevent them from selling or renting your personal information to other companies as well.
U.S. Government Do Not Call List: National Do Not Call Registry.
Click here to take your Identity Theft IQ Test!